Mexico weekly ledger., 1887-02-03

held, and one of the first propo-
in it was I adopt the unit
rule, Delegate Clark and myself
objected.
Delegate North then proposed that
l should make speech in the conven-
ton as n second to MIR. Norton's
nomination. This / declined to do.
Norton in person urgently requested
me to make a speech before the con-
vention for that purpose. still de-
clined, and this honor was finally con
ferred upon delegate CLARK, who,
with myself, had objected to the unit
rule. When the roll of counties was
called for the first time in the consen-
ton Franklin voted solid eight for r.
I'll. Norton, of Lincoln county, and
Franklin continued so to vote solid
up to the 4Sth ballot.
On the 49th ballot I changed my
vote from Norton to Robinson, and
after As ballots for that gentleman l
cast my vote for Hutton a number of
times, l do not now remember. !
also voted often for Peers, and also
for Dalton. / did not believe that
any one of the candidates had a right
to my soul and body. But shortly
after l withdrew from Norton that
gentleman sent a telegram to james
Leewright, Washington, Mo-, and
directed him without delay to see my
principal, J. T. Roark, pay his way,
and send him post haste to Mexico.
All this was done without my knowl-
edge. This nefarious act was con-
cealed in the breast of the household
of the invincible and faithful adj
herents of Mr.. Norton. Had that
gentleman came to me before he
made this unfortunate blunder and
talked this matter over as he should
have done, his discomfort probably
would have been am~eliorated. But he
chose to coerce me, and thus force
me to his support, or submit to beng
disgraced by expulsion from the con-
vention. Now, l never did admire
that word coercoin-to coerce a free.
man or a free people in my mind has
a powerful squirting at monarchy
and therefore it seemed to me thai
the gentleman in my case desired tt
assume the position of a political die
tator.
/ was totally ignorant of the fac
that my principal had been sent for
and was informed of that fact by my
friend, J. Nj. Davis, not more than ;
hours before Roark arrived in Mexi
co. But he came, and he sustainet
me in all that l had done, and ever
told me that I had gone further 70,
Norton han he would have gone. HI
declined to demand my proxy and pu
to route the fond hopes and sanguin'
expectations of my prosecutors.
My principal, J.. T. Roak, wa
present in Mexico when the secont
session of the congressional conven
ton was called to order. I placed
him in my chair in that body and tolc
him to cast his vote for the man o
his choice. He still continued to oc
cupy my chair during the night ses
sion. He did cast his vote for th,
man of his choice, and that man wa
Robinson.
had no disposition to misrepre
sent my principal, or violate his in
structions, and the only way il
which I could comply with his in
structions was to do as I did in tina
convention. I never have turned my
back on j. I. Roark, and / never will
let that displease who it may. Ihav'
known him from his boyhood and hi
is honest.
Who, then, did 1 hetray? Was i
Norton? No. Was it my principal
J. t. Roak? No.
I stood in that convention day af
ter day and let no opportunity pas!
in which l could defend the rights o.
the people. Time and again l plead
with all my power and ability for tn,
whole matter to be sent back to thu
people.
Was it treason when I told the con
, vention that the people were compe
tent to transact their own business
that the convention was not a repre-
sentative body of the sovereign viii
of the people that it had degener
ated into a loose political machine
manipulated by political demagogues
for the purpose of subverting ths
rights, liberties and sovereign will O
the people? Was this treason to tn,
people? If so, he who desires tt
consider this my treason 'may max,
the most of it."
have no apology to offer for any
thing l said in the several speeches
made in the congressional convention
at Mexico, but would to God tina
the people of my county yes, of th,
seventh congressional district, had al
been present and heard and judged
in their own way my pleading in thei
behalf. S. z. JONES.
Hope the Troy Herald and Mexi
co LEDGER will publish this also.
PERSONAL MENTION.
III. Easter is in st. Louis.
:. Mrs. Rev. Mumpower is very sick.